Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1887-07-29
THE FISHER GIRL.

The wind was strong. 1t was blowing
in sudden gusts along the coast from the
northwest and striking inland at the
opening between the tall cliffs of an old
Norman town. The tide was nearly
high and the weather so rough that the
water frequently splashed over the edge
of the quay. The fishing smacks lying
alongside creaked and strained at their
ropes. threatening to get loose from their
moorings. The quay was crowded, for
these fishing boats had run into the har-
Dor with the tide. and nearly every hand
was busy helping to unload them. The
fishermen were passing baskets filled with
fish up the ladders from the depths of
the vessels and the baskets of fish We're
being tossed into large tubs of fresh
water. From these tubs women sorted
and packed the fish in panniers ready
for removal in the carts which waited
hard by. 1t was an animated scene. full
of noise and movement. On the sands
the only inactive figure was young
fisher girl She had been looking in
tently seward and had now turned
away. Her face wore painful express
sion and her lips were parted as though
in anticipation of some danger.
The girls dress was blue wooden of
coarse material. A hood of white knitted
worsted covered her head and shoulders.
leaving her fair hair to cluster about the
brow. She belonged to that type of
blonde not uncommon among the Nor
man peasantry. Her face was round
and dimpled: and the hood in which it
was coquettishly framed gave it the soft
and simple expression of a child. In her
motionless attitude. in the midst of this
busy crowd, she resembled a statue in a
market place on market day.
"Below there!" cried a fisherman. who
was stationed at the head of ladder
which reached down into one of the
boats Haul up the lamp! We shall
soon be in the dark"
The sun had set. and black
clouds We're gathering towards the
horizon. This fisherman was a short
powerful man of 40 or As. A thick
fringe of black hair curled round his
honest, weather beaten face. and a red
cap with tassel was adjusted to the
shape of his head. His throat was en-
Il
had the appearance of a Hercules as he
stood on the quay receiving one weighty
basket after another. The girl, who was
now close behind him ON the quay.
looked round as he gave the order in a
bluff. honest voice.
Marcel" said she timidly, 1.-the Lii
onne is not yet in port.
The man glanced toward the sea-
Above the horizon the clouds had thick
ened picturing black mass in the sky.
Worse luck, he replied; ''she will
be caught in the storm
AS he uttered this prediction change
became apparent in the sea. A dark
shadow was creeping toward the shore
and the waves which this shadow crossed
were white with foam. 1t was another
sign of the approaching storm, and in a
moment it burst upon the coast AS
though night had suddenly descended
without warning. the harbor was thrown
into semi-darkness, and with the gloom
the wind swept round the quay and
howled about the rigging of the fishing
smacks The creaking and straining of
the boats now sounded a protest against
the threatened gale.
The girl uttered low cry and her eyes
sought Marcel's face.
Pauline, said the sailor, looking
round. lis Fernand on board!'
Yes she replied in a distracted
voice. He will be lost!''
Courage, my girl" said Marcel.
"Fernand is brave and able seaman. -
Pauline appeared slightly treasured.
He is indeed brave she said with
grave fervency. Heaven protect him. ~
She raised her eyes, and her lips moved
as though in prayer. Then she glanced
about with look of action. The crowd
upon the quay were still working, in
spite of the rough wind, with logged en-.
ergy. The boat had to be discharged
and the herring dispatched while fresh
to the inland towns. The Paris marke,
needed the supply, and the owners of the
fishing smacks, fearing to lose theil
profit, were moving about like taskmas
tiers among willing slaves.
Pauline turned and ran along the
quay.
1t was now quite dark. Lanterns huns
suspended from the mast of every fishing
smack, and the lamps had been Lighted
in the roadway. The windows of the
Cafe de la Phare, the fishermen's favor
lite wine shop, began to brighten as tn,
sky in every quarter assumed the aspec
of night.
At the summit of the cliff, directly
above the harbor, stood the lighthouse
1t revolved slowly, and its brightness
was like gigantic eye regarding thu
storm.
Crossing the drawbridge, which sep
arated the harbor from the dock Paulin,
reached the foot of the cliff. A steel
pathway led, in serpentine curves, to
ward the lighthouse. The girl began t,
ascend, and her movement was full O
vigor and purpose.
When she had almost reached tn
height, and had come to the walls of
monastic ruin, she noticed a flock O
sheep huddled together. A black, shagg,
dog was running restlessly to and fro
The shepherd, a huge man, wrapped from
head to foot in thick sheepskin cloak
turned to look down at Pauline.
At this elevated point, near the top O
the cliff, the force of the wind nearl
raised the girl off her feet; but the sheI